I think the difference with BOBW and Family and The Cricle triology, is that in the former the story told in Family is linked to events in BOBW but not part of the stroy told in BOBW, whilst The Circle trilogy tells one story

__________________
On the continent of wild endeavour in the mountains of solace and solitude there stood the citadel of the time lords, the oldest and most mighty race in the universe looking down on the galaxies below sworn never to interfere only to watch.